Lectionary --Ordinary 25 Year C

Jeremiah 8:18 to 9:1 My joy is gone, grief is upon me
Psalm 79:1-9 How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever?
1 Timothy 2:1-7 ... be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Luke 16:1-13 Parable of the dishonest manager.

(Numbers refer to The Australian Hymn Book and Sing Alleluia. TIS = Together in Song)

SA 28 (TIS 16) Do not be afraid, I am with you
SA 41 (TIS 416) Great God, your Spirit like the wind
SA 42 (TIS 657) God of freedom, God of Justice
104 (TIS 160) Father all loving, thou rulest in majesty 11 Jun
112 (TIS 163) God, who stretched the spangled heavens [alt. tune Austria]
362 (TIS 439) What shall we offer our good Lord
365 Jesus, united by thy grace
482 How can a sinner know/ his sins on earth forgiven
499 Once to every man and nation
554 (TIS 630) The Law of Christ alone can make us free
576 (TIS 771) Now to him who loved us

There is a message in the Gospel for today with implications for this life and the next: be prepared for the time when you
will be asked to give an account of your life; and it follows that if, by the grace of God, you have served others well you will
be rewarded. The parable of the dishonest manager (Luke 16:1-8a) is unfortunately rather topical: the belief that only the
bottom line matters has led to a good deal of concern with honesty in business; yet Jesus concluded: And his master
commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; and seemed to offer him as a good example (Luke
16:8,9).

Honesty and eternal rewards
These difficult words are followed by much more familiar sayings, encouraging honesty, concluding with You cannot serve
God and wealth. [Luke 16:10-13]. But what are the eternal homes (Luke 16:11) into which people who made good use of
worldly wealth might be received? [Compare with Luke 16:4.] Jesus is encouraging people to make use of money or worldly
power in a way that will win eternal rewards. Compare with Matthew 25 about giving food to the hungry, or visiting those
who are prison: people who do will be welcomed into the Kingdom of God [Matthew 25:33-40]. The use we make of
worldly wealth will have an affect on our eternal destiny. These are the true riches [Luke 16:11]. [See Luke 12:33-34;
Matthew 6:19-21 regarding treasure in heaven.]

Being prepared for the coming of the Kingdom -- and our mission
The dishonest steward/manager is commended for being wise enough to prepare for his day of judgement, so should we be
ready to give an account of the way we have used our worldly wealth. We are stewards or managers of all that God has put
into our hands. In our church we have a strong commitment to community service and social justice. Jesus taught us to
combine an interest in worldly matters with an awareness of the riches of heaven. Our sense of stewardship, or management
of what we have, should express that hope and prayer: Your Kingdom come!

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have
eternal life. -- John 3:16
This is the assurance of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: Your sins are forgiven.Thanks be to God.

DOXOLOGY: Hymn 576 Now to him who loved usNow to him who loved us, gave usevery pledge that love could give,freely shed his blood to save us,gave his life that we might live,be the kingdom, and dominion,and the glory evermore.

WELCOME AND GREETING EACH OTHER

Service of the Word

INTRODUCTION OF THEME:
A word to the children and blessing

OLD TESTAMENT Jeremiah 8:18 to 9:1 My joy is gone, grief is upon me
PSALM Psalm 79:1-9 How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever?
EPISTLE 1 Timothy 2:1-7 ... be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
GOSPEL Luke 16:1-13 Parable of the dishonest manager.

HYMN Do not be afraid, I am with you TIS 16, SA 28

SERMON

HYMN Jesus, united by thy grace TIS AHB 365

OFFERING AND DEDICATION
SHARING TIME [Notices, celebrations, requests for intercessions]

Social Justice Affirmation: Your kingdom Come

We believe in God, creator of the world and of all people; and in Jesus Christ, incarnate among us, who died and rose again;
and in the Holy Spirit, present with us to strengthen and comfort.We believe. Lord, help our unbelief.

We rejoice in every sign of God's kingdom: in the upholding of human dignity and community; in every expression of love,
justice and reconciliation; in each act of self-giving in behalf of others; in the abundance of God's gifts entrusted to us that all
may have enough; in all responsible use of the earth's resources.Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God's people on earth.

We confess our sin, individual and collective, by silence or action: through the violation of human dignity based on race, age
sex, nation or belief; through the exploitation of people by greed and indifference; through the misuse of power in personal,
communal, national and international life; through the search for security by military and economic forces that threaten
human existence: through the abuse of technology which endangers the earth and all life upon it.Lord have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

We commit ourselves individually and as a community to the way of Christ; to take up the cross; to seek abundant life for all
humanity; to struggle for peace with justice and freedom; to risk ourselves in faith, hope and love, praying that God's
kingdom may come.For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.

COLLECT FOR THE DAY
Almighty God,
without you we are not able to please you.
Mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit
may in all things direct and rule our hearts;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

The Sending Forth of the People of God

HYMN Once to every man and nation AHB 499
WORD OF MISSION
No servant can serve two masters; for a servant will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and
despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. -- Luke 16:13
BLESSING
DISMISSAL Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:In the name of Christ. Amen.